The racing hours are NOT the great expense in racing. They are testing for as many or more hours that that at their own expense.

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It was fun while it lasted, have enjoyed the people I've met but the measuring contests and arguments over who's more insider and who's smarter has just made it not worth the effort any longer. It should be fun, not work and it's just work to find actual information.

Some of them are testing more than you would think, they still need the data as well. And running Ams only at race events is no where near enough time to get them situated. And those who can't afford it should prob stay in the national series, that's what they are there for I believe??

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It was fun while it lasted, have enjoyed the people I've met but the measuring contests and arguments over who's more insider and who's smarter has just made it not worth the effort any longer. It should be fun, not work and it's just work to find actual information.

Some of them are testing more than you would think, they still need the data as well. And running Ams only at race events is no where near enough time to get them situated. And those who can't afford it should prob stay in the national series, that's what they are there for I believe??

So what kind of a budget would we be talking about in this 24h series?

I don't see anything intentional here (if Bernie was still in control, it would probably be a week earlier...). For as long as F1 teams insist on the 3-week August break there aren't that many possibilities. Spectator wise Le Mans will get the usual quarter million visitors no matter what, the GP looks much less certain considering it a new track for F1. The circuits aren't right next to each other but if anything this should hurt the GP attendance.

F1 2018 calendar was released early. The traditional June 16-17 spot is empty,

Le Mans 24h confirmed for June 16-17 at the same FIA Council Meeting http://www.fia.com/news/fia-announce...il-decisions-6
They said they'd release the calendar at a later date and the next meeting is September 21st.
Also Formula E has only one race in June, the weekend between pre-Le Mans test and Le Mans week like this year.

***Head of Porsche Motorsport Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser expects that the proposal for GTE qualifying races to be approved for next year. Walliser told Sportscar365 that there’s been “very positive” discussions between manufacturers on the concept. “We have to work on the final things: how many points you will get, and if it’s only grid position or points, because then the motivation is higher. How you handle the tires, how is the parc ferme, what you do if you crash the car, there’s a lot to be figured out. The experts are working on it, but the proposal that we have now is fine.”